Floribunda Rose Plant Named &#39;KORoutofko&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of floribunda rose plant, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘KORoutofko’, is disclosed. The new variety forms abundantly on a substantially continuous basis attractive, dark red colored blossoms. Attractive vigorous vegetative is formed, which contrasts beautifully with the blossoms. The growth habit is very bushy. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLCIATIONS

This application claims priority to Plant Breeders' Right ApplicationNumber 20202202, which was filed at Community Plant Variety Office inthe European Union on Sep. 17, 2020, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KORoutofko’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of floribunda rose plant of the present invention wascreated by controlled breeding in May 2007 in Sparrishoop, Germany byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was ‘KORmarkron’ (U.S. Pat. No. 23,159). The male parent (i.e.,the pollen parent) of the new variety was an unnamed breeder seedling(non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘KORmarkron’ X unnamed breeder seedling

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation inCochranville, Pa. by a number of routes, such as vegetative cuttings.Asexual propagation techniques in Cochranville, Pa., such as vegetativecuttings, have shown that the characteristics of the new variety arehomogeneous, stable, and strictly transmissible by such asexualpropagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new varietyundergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the new variety of floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   (a) displays attractive, dark red colored blossoms,    -   (b) exhibits a very bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation, and    -   (d) provides glossy, dark green foliage.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘KORmarkron’ variety (i.e.,the seed parent) displays more petals, a less bushy growth habit, andbrighter red colored flowers compared to the new variety. In addition,the unnamed breeder seedling male parent (i.e., the pollen parent)displays less petals and a less bushy growth habit compared to the newvariety. Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished fromother similar non-parental varieties. For example, the ‘Sprothrive’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,549) displays smaller sized flowers andless disease resistance for black spot compared to the new variety.

The new variety has been named ‘KORoutofko’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plant of thenew variety was approximately four years of age and was observed atCochranville, Pa., U.S.A. while growing outdoors in the ground on itsown roots.

Drawing—illustrates a specimen of a plant displaying blossoms.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2015 edition). Theterminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added toindicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The descriptionis based on the observation of a four-years-old specimen of the newvariety, observed during June, while growing on its own roots outdoorsand in the ground in Cochranville, Pa.

-   Commercial classication: Floribunda Rose Plant.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Very bushy and rounded.        -   Height.—Approximately 3.5 feet on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.5 feet on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Stem color.—Commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Length.—Main stems: approximately 72.0 cm on average. —            secondary stems: approximately 20.0 cm on average.        -   Diameter.—Main stems: approximately 5.0 mm on average. —            secondary stems: approximately 3.0 mm on average.        -   Thorns.—Amount: moderate, 3 to 4 thorns per internode. —            young thorns: color is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group            163A; length is approximately 3.0 mm on average; and width            is approximately 2.0 mm on average at point of attachment. —            old thorns: color is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 166B;            length is approximately 5.0 mm on average; and width is            approximately 7.0 mm on average at point of attachment.-   Foliage:    -   -   Young foliage color.—Upper surface: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 146A with indistinguishable venation. —            under surface: commonly near Yellow-Green 146C with            indistinguishable venation.        -   Old foliage color.—Upper surface: commonly near Green Group            139A with indistinguishable venation. — under surface:            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146C with indistinguishable            venation.        -   Petiole.—Upper and under surfaces: texture is smooth; color            is commonly near Green Group 138A. — length: approximately            3.0 cm on average. — diameter: approximately 1.0 mm on            average.        -   Rachis.—Color: upper surface is commonly near Green Group            137A, under surface is commonly near Yellow-Green Group            144A; length is approximately 6.0 cm on average; diameter is            approximately 1.0 on average.        -   Stipules.—Length: approximately 2.0 mm on average. — width:            approximately 4.0 mm on average. — margin: entire to erose.            — color: upper and under surfaces are commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   5-Leaflet leaf.—Length: approximately 12.0 cm on average. —            width: approximately 10.0 cm on average.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Number of leaflets.—3, 5, and 7.        -   Shape.—Ovate; apex is acute to acuminate; and base is            rounded.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet undulation.—Slight.        -   Glossiness of upper side of leaflet.—Glossy.        -   Texture.—Upper and under surfaces is smooth.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: approximately 6.0 cm on average. —            width: approximately 3.0 cm on average.        -   Lower leaflet.—Length: approximately 2.8 cm on average. —            width: approximately 1.7 cm on average.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Generally about 40 blooms open on average            on a plant at once.        -   Number of blooms per stem or in a cluster.—Typically between            four to five blooms per stem on average.        -   Blooming season.—Typically in bloom outdoors from May to            November in Southeastern Pennsylvania.        -   Peduncle.—Length: approximately 3.0 cm on average. —            diameter: approximately 2.0 mm on average. — surface            texture: smooth. — color: commonly near Green Group 143A.        -   Sepals.—Number: commonly 5. — length: approximately 2.5 cm            on average. — width: approximately 8.0 mm on average. —            margin: entire with extensions on two or three sepals            measuring approximately 5.0 mm in length on average and 1.0            mm in width on average. — upper surface color and texture:            commonly near Green Group 143A; covered in short pubescence.            — under surface color and texture: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 148B; puberulent. — apex: acute to            aristate. — base: truncate as it joins the receptacle.        -   Bud.—Shape: ovoid. — length: approximately 1.5 cm on            average. — width: approximately 1.4 cm on average. — color            when opening: commonly near Red Group 53A.        -   Flower.—Diameter: approximately 6.0cm on average. — height:            approximately 2.0 cm on average. — duration: flower is on            the plant approximately 8-10 days. — form: double, cuplike.            — profile: convex to flat as it opens. — number of petals            under normal conditions: approximately 12 petals on average.            — shape of the petal: overall: broadly obovate. apex:            rounded. base: cuneate. — petal length: approximately 2.4 cm            on average. — petal width: approximately 2.5 cm. — petal            margin: entire with moderate to strong undulation. — petal            drop: excellent. — fragrance: none noticeable. — petal color            when first and fully opened: upper surface: commonly between            near Red Group 46A and 46B. under surface: commonly near Red            Group 46B. — petal color at end of blooming: upper surface:            commonly near Red Group 46C with some coloration of 187A            towards the petal margins. under surface: commonly near Red            Group 53C. — petal texture: upper and lower surfaces are            glabrous. — petaloids: typically 1 or 2 per flower; color is            commonly between near Red Group 46A and 46B; length is            approximately 1.5 cm on average; width is approximately 5.0            mm on average.        -   Receptacle.—Color: commonly near Green Group 143A. —            diameter: approximately 6.0 mm on average. — depth:            approximately 5.0 mm on average. — surface texture: smooth.            — shape: urn shaped.        -   Stamen.—Number is approximately 160 on average. — anthers:            number is approximately 160 on average; color is commonly            near Yellow-Orange Group 22A; length is approximately 3.0 mm            on average; and shape is oval. — filaments: length is            approximately 3.0 mm on average and color is commonly near            Orange-Red Group 34B.        -   Pistils.—Arrangement is separate and free; number is            approximately 60 on average. — styles: length is            approximately 4.0 mm on average and color is commonly near            Yellow Group 3C. — stigmas: diameter is approximately 1.0            mm; color is commonly near Yellow Group 3C; shape is fan            shaped.        -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Hips/seed formation.—None observed.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Glossy, dark green, vigorous, and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous from            spring through frost.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to USDA Zone 5.        -   Resistance to disease.—Very good resistance to powdery            mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and black spot (Diplocarpon            rosae) disease under normal greenhouse growing conditions in            Cochranville, Pa.

Plants of the ‘KORoutofko’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of floribunda rose plant named‘KORoutofko’ characterized by the following combination ofcharacteristics: (a) displays attractive, dark red colored blossoms, (b)exhibits a very bushy growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, and(d) provides glossy, dark green foliage; substantially as herein shownand described.